Iraq Lobby Days are here again! July 18-21, 1999
The time is here once again for the anti-sanctions community to make its presence felt in Congress. This past April, the Education for Peace in Iraq Center hosted its first "Iraq Lobby Days," reaching over 70 Congressional offices in three days. This time around, we will meet with over 200 Congressional offices to continue pressuring Congress to lift the devastating economic sanctions on the people of Iraq. But in order to do this, we need you!
What is Iraq Lobby Days?
Lobby Days is an exciting and inspiring opportunity for activists from all over the United States to come together in Washington, DC and meet with Members of Congress to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and to urge them to lift the sanctions. You will meet with your own Members of Congress as well as accompany fellow activists on other meetings. You will also be able to participate in lobbying training and workshops.
Who Should Come to Iraq Lobby Days?
You! Even if you have never lobbied before! For those who are new to lobbying, EPIC will get you started by helping you set up meetings, pairing you up with experienced lobbyists for your meetings, and providing support and advice throughout the entire process. Iraq Lobby Days will kick off with a full day of training and workshops, and each evening we will meet together again to share stories and trade ideas about the day’s meetings.
For those who are already seasoned lobbyists, Iraq Lobby Days will allow you to not only reconnect with your contacts in Congress, but also to help empower and guide a new crop of lobbyists, exponentially strengthening our movement.
How Does Iraq Lobby Days Work?
1. Register. Return the registration form at the bottom of this page no later than July 4, 1999.
2. Arrange your transportation. Lobby training (mandatory) begins in the morning on Sunday, July 18, so we encourage you to arrive in DC by Saturday night (July 17). Plan to leave DC on Wednesday, July 21, after the EPIC demonstration planned for Wednesday morning. For those of you who can stay in town longer, we will schedule a few meetings for Wednesday afternoon as well.
3. Arrange your housing. EPIC encourages you to arrange your own housing.
We have provided a list of some options on the reverse of this page, and we also recommend that you talk to friends in the area who may be able to host you. If you cannot find housing on your own, please let us know.
4. Put together a delegation and schedule your appointments. It is best for you to schedule your own appointments with your Senators and Representatives to take place on July 19-20. Offices will prioritize calls from constituents (more so than calls from EPIC), and you are more likely to get a meeting with your Senator or Rep (as opposed to a staffer) if you make the call on your own. Use EPIC’s "An Activist Guide to Lobbying" as a guide (available via email or snail mail from epicprograms@igc.org). If you still feel uncomfortable about setting up your own appointments, we will be more than happy to help you! Just give us a call or drop us an email. Delegations should comprise 2-4 people. If you are coming to Iraq Lobby Days on your own, we will build a delegation for you by pairing you up with other activists attending Lobby Days. In addition to the appointments you make for yourself, you can back up other activists by attending their meetings (you will receive a final schedule of your meetings at the training on July 18).
5. Inform EPIC of your appointments as they are confirmed. For each meeting you schedule, let us know the date, time, name of the staffer you will be meeting with, and the name of all lobbyists attending the meeting.
6. Lobby! Come to Lobby Days, attend the training, meet lots of great people coming into town, and join one of the most exciting initiatives around to help end the sanctions on the people of Iraq!
For more information on Lobby Days, to ask questions, or to request assistance:
Please contact Shari Silberstein at EPIC, (202) 543-6176 or epicprograms@igc.org.
General Schedule for Iraq Lobby Days
Sunday, July 18
9 am - 7 pm (with breaks): Welcome, Training, Workshops, Role Plays,
Scheduling (finalizing) and Dinner
Monday, July 19
9 am - 5 pm: Lobby Visits
6 pm - 9 pm: Dinner, Discussion
Tuesday, July 20
9 am - 5 pm: Lobby Visits
6 pm - 9 pm: Dinner, Wrap-up
Wednesday, July 21
9 am - 11:30 am: Demonstration against the economic sanctions 12 pm - 5 pm: Lobby Visits (for those who can stay)
Travel Plans
Arriving: From National Airport, you can catch the Blue Line Metrorail into DC. From Dulles Airport, you can catch a shuttle bus to Downtown DC or to the Orange Line Metro Station in West Falls Church. From BWI Airport, you can take a commuter train to Union Station in DC and then catch the Red Line Metrorail or a cab. Amtrak trains also arrive at Union Station. Greyhound Buses will drop you off at the Greyhound Terminal in NE DC, where you can catch a Metrobus or cab.
Housing (reservations recommended for all of the options below):
Hilton, 800-445-8667; Holiday Inn, 800-465-4329; see any travel guide for others!
Registration Form
Name: _______________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
City/State/Zip: _________________________________
Phone/Email: __________________________________
Name of Representative: _________________________ (if known)
Name of Senators: ______________________________ (if known)
This is / is not my first time lobbying (circle one).
Appointments Scheduled: ______________________
___I do not have any appointments scheduled yet but plan to schedule my own appointments.
Note: Be sure to give all of your appointment information to Shari as soon as you have it! [epicprograms@igc.org or (202) 543-6176]
Please return this form by July 4, 1999 to: Shari Silberstein Education for Peace in Iraq Center, 747 10th St, SE #2 Washington, DC 20003; fax: 202-543-0725; email: epicprograms@igc.org
Back to: Actions and Statements by Groups Opposing Sanctions
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